The Third Estate, who where all in favour of reforming the current rule, threatened to outnumber The Estate General (the ones in charge) thus they were locked out of their meeting hall to prevent them from perusing reform. They held their meeting on a nearby tennis court where they proposed to remain assembled until a constitution was written.
Despite the king’s many attempts to prevent the Third Estate from gathering and overturning the Estates General, the Third Estate prevailed. This was the first stand of the ‘commoners’ against the monarchy, nobles and clergy. It was the starting point of the revolution as it forced the current government into a position tho write a new constitution which included all the reforms supported by/ requested by the majority of the overtaxed and overworked society.
July 14 1789
The Storming of the Bastille (Now France’s independence day)
300 French guard and angry citizens storm the Bastille, a fortress in which Marquis de Launay had lived, and captured him and all his troops. They were dragged through the streets of Paris and brutally executed. Louis XVI had heard of the ‘revolution’, unbeknownst that he was next.
Although the storming was supposedly done to free the prisoners within, the mob served only to free a handful of common thieves. Their true achievement was the overpowering and slaughter of the Marquis and his troops. This began the ‘action’ of the revolution. The mob had served to free themselves to their ability to physically take what is rightfully theirs and remove unwanted leaders. It is here that the first blood of the revolution was spilt.
October 1789
“October Days”
A mob of women marches to Versailles (palace of Louis XVI) and the royal family is moved to house arrest in Paris, however the revolution’s leaders quickly move to Paris. The royal family are at their mercy.
This came as a result of the exceptional prices of bread at the time. Many French women were outraged at being unable to feed their own families. What started as 6000 women march to Versailles became an uncountable number armed with pick forks and torches. Their request was met, however the true significance lies in the fact that it was because of this that the king moved to Paris – which later resulted in the masacre of the royal family.
1791-1792
Legislative Assembly Elected
Under the first constitution (1791) a new assembly is elected.
This acted as the governing body during the revolution for less than a year. They had become bankrupt, unsuccessful in political progress and had a useless army and navy. However they were the first ‘government’ built under the new constitution and opened the door for successful successors as they suspended the king from government and decreed a new constitution be written.
January 1793
Execution of Louis XVI
This event served two main purposes. 1.As the ultimate act of defiance against the old government/monarchy and the royals claim to all the riches of the nation. It served as a complete end to the old reign and as a message to the people that they may choose the path of their nation. 2.A nation without a moncach would’ve been seen as an easy target by other European countries and no doubt they would’ve rallied against France. Thus this would’ve served to force all of France’s citizens to rally around the Revolutionary Government as their only leader.
The
French
Revolution
1. As the ultimate act of defiance against the old government/monarchy and the royals claim to all the riches of the nation. It served as a complete end to the old reign and as a message to the people that they may choose the path of their nation.
2. A nation without a moncach would’ve been seen as an easy target by other European countries and no doubt they would’ve rallied against France. Thus this would’ve served to force all of France’s citizens to rally around the Revolutionary Government as their only leader.